From Beowulf to Harry Potter, the archetype of the hero is universal, occurring in every culture, across every era. While each story is infinitely unique with a variety of individualized differences, its basic formula of a hero’s journey remains the same. In Joseph Campbell’s book, The Hero with a Thousand Faces, he explores this theory that all myths share a fundamental structure. This recurrent trend was first recognized thousands of years ago in Homer’s two most famous works, The Iliad and The Odyssey. Since their publication, these works have shaped the West’s idea of heroism and cultural identity by establishing what Campbell termed the “monomyth,” or seventeen steps that comprise the entire journey a hero may embark upon.
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the concept of the monomyth, Campbell describes the traditional adventure of the archetype known as the hero, the individual who faces great adversity while achieving great deeds in the interest of others (Campbell 22). Campbell describes the monomyth in the following way: A hero ventures forth from the world of common day into a region of supernatural wonder: fabulous forces are there encountered and a decisive victory is won: the hero comes back from this mysterious adventure with the power to bestow boons on his fellow man. (Campbell 23) The hero’s journey is a widespread pattern of narrative that includes a number of different stages. Not all myths contain every step and some stages may be organized in different ways; however, the basic principles are fundamentally the same: The hero, naïve and timid, is introduced to the audience, along with his personal history and background. He lives in the ordinary world, but soon receives a call to enter an adventure of strange events or issues. The hero soon begins to face change and refuses the initial call for adventure (Campbell 54). He meets another character, who mentors and trains him with the skills needed to continue his journey (Campbell 65). The hero then accepts the call and crosses the threshold, committing to leave the ordinary world (Campbell 72). Now, the hero must face a road of trials; he may have newfound allies to help him along the way (Campbell 89). In the most intense part of the journey, the hero must survive his most difficult challenge or greatest fear (Campbell 89). If the hero survives, he wins the treasure or achieves the main goal and may return with it to the ordinary world (Campbell 159). At the climax, the hero is tested once more. If he is successful in his return to the ordinary world, the gift may be used to transform and improve the world (Campbell 179). In his book, The Hero with a Thousand Faces, Campbell describes the pattern of the monomyth that appears in every story ever told (Volger).
Homer’s two most famous works, The Iliad and The Odyssey are the first written pieces to include this theme. The Iliad follows the events of the main protagonist, Achilles. When Achilles was born, his mother placed him into a magical solution that made him invincible. Many years later, Achilles accepts his call to adventure by joining the Trojan War. He crosses the threshold when his dear friend, Patroclus dies. Achilles confronts many challenges during the war as he fights against warriors and gods. He accepts assistance from the gods and his mother during several moments in the epic. Near the middle of the story, Achilles faces his most difficult struggle during his battle with Hector, the Trojan army's best warrior and the son of King Priam. Continuing the framework of the monomyth, Achilles’s final and most important victory is the killing of Hector. At the end of the epic, “Achilles presides over a day of funeral games and bestows boons on his fellow man" by awarding prizes (Byrce …show more content…
116). Following the idea of the monomyth, Achilles “ventures forth from his ordinary world and enters a region of supernatural wonder” (Taheri 254).
As he begins to face hardship when his friend dies and the epic continues to unfold, Achilles “returns to the ordeal and takes on the Trojans” (Taheri 254). In a similar fashion, Homer’s The Odyssey abides by the pattern of the monomyth by focusing on the character Odysseus and his family's struggle to recover from the Trojan War (Taheri 254). Odysseus first receives the call to leave his common world during the Trojan War. He initially refuses to leave his family but with the help of the goddess Athena, he sets sail to join the war. After the war, the gods become angry with the Greeks and throw their ships off trail. This is the crossing of the threshold. Odysseus and his men are then forced to face many tests and obstacles to get home. For example, they face Polyphemus, Circones, the Lotuseaters, and the Sirens. In his greatest obstacle, Odysseus is sent to the underworld to attain information to help his men get home. The King of Phaeacia eventually gives Odysseus his passage home, where he returns to his ordinary world (Taheri
253-254). In his study of world hero myths Campbell discovered that these stories, along with many pieces of Western literature, are “all basically the same story, retold endlessly in infinite variations” (Volger). Both The Iliad and The Odyssey are classic representations of epic heroes in literature (Taheri 251). The main characters express certain virtues, such as strength, courage, and nobility that make them notable as heroes (Taheri 251). While Odysseus and Achilles journeys are not easy ones, they explain the importance of strenuous battles heroes must undergo and the rewards that they receive if they succeed (Taheri 251). In his academic journal titled “The Archetype of the Hero's Journey in Odyssey” Mohammad Taheri writes: This particular journey, as detailed in Homer’s The Odyssey [and The Illiad], is one of struggle, loss, heartache, pain, growth and triumph. [They are] comprised of many steps that Odysseus [and Achilles have] to overcome and battle through in order to achieve [their] final goal of reaching [their] home and [their] loved ones, from the Call to Adventure to the Freedom or Gift of living. (Taheri 1) As Taheri explains, the journey every hero undergoes in literature can best be defined through the pattern of the monomyth. This concept begins with the call to adventure and ends with the hero’s freedom or gift giving (Taheri 252). The Iliad and The Odyssey best illustrate this narrative; therefore, the affects these pieces have had on Western literature are no surprise. In his work, Joseph Campbell explained that the pattern of the monomyth can been found in many narratives from different parts of the world. The Iliad and The Odyssey were the first works to present this term; however, this basic structure now appears in storytelling, myths, the media, psychological development, and other areas of study (“The Hero’s Journey Outline”). Literary theorist, Northrop Frye, explained that the “myth is a structural element in literature because literature as a whole is ‘displaced mythology’ based on archetypes of literature with the quest myth at its center” (Boyer). Frye’s words explain how Campbell’s monomyth can extend to many different areas and genres of art and literature. Many well-known pieces of Western literature also follow the monomyth. For instance, Frank L. Baum’s 1900 children’s novel, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, represents a modern example of the monomyth. Dorothy leaves her ordinary life in Kansas after a giant tornado hits her home and takes her dog. She initially refuses to believe she is in the Land of Oz, but the Munchkins convince her she is not in Kansas anymore. Dorothy meets Glenda, the good witch, who mentors her and sends her down the yellow brick road. She also meets several new allies along the way, such as the Scare Crow, the Lion, and the Tin Woodman. Later in the novel, Dorothy faces new challenges when she confronts the Wicked Witch and the Monkeys. She kills the witch, receives her reward, and returns home with new courage and appreciation for herself and her family. Dorothy’s journey to save Toto and return home fits the model of the monomyth. Other famous pieces of Western literature and work that are clearly influenced by this concept from Homer’s epics include: Herman Melville’s Moby-Dick, published in 1851; The Matrix, a science-fictional motion picture; the comic character “Superman”; and the Disney animated feature film, The Lion King. While these examples are paradigms of the pattern of the monomyth, there is no other example as potent as J. R. R. Tolkien’s classic trilogy The Lord of the Rings. In the novel, the hero, Frodo, receives his call for adventure when he inherits Bilbo’s magic ring and must follow the quest to destroy it in the fires on Mount Doom. Frodo’s road of trials is long and painful; although, he receives help from the Fellowship of the Ring and other fellow hobbits. Frodo also encounters a countless number of enemies, including another hobbit named Gollum, who wants to keep the ring and its powers for his own selfish reasons. Frodo’s return to the ordinary world is not successful; however, he does save the world by destroying the treasured ring. Unlike in Campbell’s theory of the monomyth, the gift the hero receives in the end cannot be shared with his people; it must be destroyed because it is corrupted and cannot be used for the good of society. This example may not follow the exact steps Campbell explained in his book; however, it does illustrate the basic structure: the initiation of a great hero, his internal and external battles, and the difficult decisions he must make in order to protect the prosperity of the world he lives in. The monomyth can also been seen in other areas of modern Western culture because it has influenced a number of poets, artists, and filmmakers, including George Lucas, creator of Star Wars. Lucas used Campbell’s theory as inspiration while writing his film series Star Wars. He explained it in the following way: It came to me that there really was no modern use of mythology...so that's when I started doing more strenuous research on fairy tales, folklore and mythology, and I started reading Joe's books. Before that I hadn't read any of Joe's books.... It was very eerie because in reading The Hero with A Thousand Faces I began to realize that my first draft of Star Wars was following classical motifs. (Lucas) Lucas’ films are evidence of the influence Homer’s epics have had on Western culture. One example of the monomyth found in Western music is Bob Dylan’s song “Mr. Tambourine Man” (Bryer). In the song the narrator, and hero, is ready to take up the call of adventure and even asks for help from a supernatural being. The lyrics to “Mr. Tambourine Man” (Dylan, 1965) include the lines: Take me on a trip upon your magic swirlin’ ship My senses have been stripped, my hands can’t feel to grip My toes too numb to step Wait only for my boot heels to be wanderin’ I’m ready to go anywhere, I’m ready to fade Into my own parade, Cast your dancing spell my way I promise to go under it. (Dylan, 1965) This song, along with Lucas’ Star Wars, illustrates the extent of influence that Homer’s epic has had on Western culture. Lucas’ and Dylan’s work also demonstrate what the West believes about heroism: that it is about courage, bravery, and resilience. These principles stem from Homer’s characters who also portray similar traits. In Bob Dylan’s song he sings as a curious and eager man ready to take action and answer the call of adventure. Similarly, Achilles thirsts for victory and is willing to sacrifice everything so that his name will be forever remembered. In Lucas’ films, a hero is seen as one who risks all and despite the dangers and threats, continues to stay brave and zealous. Odysseus, from The Odysse,y also has these defining character traits; he is strong, courageous and noble. Although Homer’s greatest influence has been the development of the monomyth, his characters’ have also had a lasting impact of the development of the West’s idea of heroism. From musicians to filmmakers to authors, the monomyth can be found in a mélange of different areas of Western culture. While every version of the monomyth is unique in its own way, the overarching theme of the archetype of a hero is universal. Homer’s original pattern and Campbell’s study of the seventeen steps that comprise a hero’s quest continue to influence different generations and cultures of people today. Since The Iliad and The Odyssey, these works have shaped the West’s idea of heroism and cultural identity by establishing the pattern of the monomyth and identifying the character traits every great hero should have.
Joseph Campbell’s The Hero with a Thousand Face does Beowulf qualify as a mythic hero. Beowulf qualifies as a mythic character for many different reasons. Campbell’s stories share a lot of the same topic with the mythic creatures like in the story the belly of the whale. A hero was swallowed and had to find his way out. Beowulf and his village was being attacked by a creature who could not control himself.
The mold of the heroic template is evident throughout various types of media. Within movies, novels, and poems the hero’s journey is present. Of course, not every piece of literature or movie follows the cycle. However, the idea of the monomyth arose from Joseph Campbell. He wrote his own book, The Hero of a Thousand Faces, within his writing he describes that heroes’ follow the same basic procedure throughout their quest(s). This is where the idea of the hero monomyth arose. In Michael Lewis’s novel, The Blind Side, he portrays “The heroic monomyth.” The Blind Side consists of the basic characters and archetypes that accurately reflect the heroic template.
Many of the stories that have been told for centuries, or have recently been created, incorporate the story of a young innocent character who embarks on a journey and becomes a hero, known as The Hero’s Journey; a series of steps that all heroes follow. This journey not only shows the main character becoming a hero but also shows the hero move along a path similar to that of adolescence, the path between childhood and maturity. The Hero’s Journey was created by a man by the name of Joseph Campbell. He wrote a book called The Hero with One Thousand Faces, a novel containing a variety of stories that follow the steps of the Hero’s Journey. One famous creation that follows The Hero’s Journey is the science fiction film trilogy: Star Wars, created by George Lucas. Lucas depicts the struggles that take place along the path of adolescence through the story of a protagonist Luke Skywalker, who strives to become a Jedi Knight to show that Campbell’s Hero’s Journey reflects the struggles that youth go through whether they are depicted in a story or not.
The Ancient Greeks admired their heroes and tried to learn from both their achievements and their mistakes. They believed that most great leaders and warriors followed a predictable behavior cycle, which often ended tragically. In Homer’s epic poem, The Iliad, Achilles is a great warrior who traces the stages of the behavior cycle twice, from arete to hubris to ate and then to nemesis. Achilles is a highly skilled warrior and a great leader who becomes a narcissist and an arrogant person, which leads to selfish and childish behavior resulting in the death of his best friend. Following Patroclus’ death, Achilles repeats the behavior cycle by regaining his courage and motivation, and goes back to battle against Hector. The pride he feels in killing Hector and his overpowering hatred for him, leads Achilles to another bad decision: disrespecting the body of his enemy. This foolish choice leads directly to Achilles death. Although The Iliad is mainly known as a story about the Trojan War, it is understood as a story about Achilles and his struggle to be a hero.
In conclusion, there is no indifference against the form we take or the life we lead but what we make of what we have been given. Every story has a hero, no matter how insignificant or secondary they may seem, and any individual does not require any extra powers to make a difference in someone's life than can affect tens, hundreds, even thousands of people. A person is bestowed with the title of a “hero” in the same manner any other person has to earn respect. Our stories shape our character, and lead us to becoming influential people despite our origin. A hero can be anyone, and can come from anywhere. Our literary figures today face their struggles and come out victorious which make them the ideal warriors to role model and aspire to become. A hero's origin is merely the basis for leaving an everlasting impression on the world.
middle of paper ... ... In Homer’s Odyssey, both Odysseus and his son Telemachus embark on long, difficult journeys; Odysseus trying to return from Troy to his home in Ithaca, escaping Calypso and the island of Ogygia, and Telemachus from Ithaca to Pylos and Sparta in search of his lost father. While The Odyssey tells of the courage both men demonstrate during their respective travels, their quests are the results of the intentions and desires of gods. Odysseus is trapped in exile on Ogygia by the will of Poseidon, whose anger Odysseus attracts when he blinds the Cyclops Polyphemus, son of Poseidon, and by the love of Calypso, who wishes to make Odysseus her husband.
The rage of Grecian hero Achilles stands at the forefront of the Homeric epic “Iliad.” During the tenth year of the Trojan War, Achilles must weigh his value of honor with his value of survival at four points throughout the epic; first when Agamemnon takes away Bryseis, second when Agamemnon tempts him into battle with gifts, third when Patroclus dies, and finally when King Priam attempts to ransom for Hector’s body back.
Christopher Vogler’s The Writer’s Journey is an extension of the ideas expressed in Joseph Campbell’sbook, The Hero With a Thousand Faces. In the book Campbell discusses the archetypal myth of the hero and expresses that all stories are based on an archetype, and this archetype applies to most stories told.
The first requirement of Aristotle's tragic hero is that they are more admirable than the average character. Achilles meets this requirement because of his ability on the battlefield. In The Iliad, the background to the story is the war between the Greeks and the Trojans. This background is not only the basis for the story overall, but is also the basis for Achilles' own story. This begins when Achilles refuses to join the battle because he is insulted by Agamemnon. This decision results in the action that drives the remainder of the story. Later in the story when Achilles becomes angered and goes to the other extreme, launching into battle and killing ferociously. The significance of this is that it places battle as central to both Achilles' story and to what is important in the setting of the story. Importantly, the aspect that makes Achilles greater than most is his ability o...
Achilles is introduced into The Iliad getting into a debacle with the leader of the Greek army, Agamemnon, during the last year of the Trojan War. Achilles starts a quarrel with Agamemnon because he has demanded possession of Achilles’ woman, Briseis, in consolation for having to give up his woman, Chryseis, so that the gods will end their plague upon the Greek soldiers. Achilles does all he can to get his loved one back, but he knows that nothing will waver Agamemnon’s decision. This is when Achil...
After Campbell studied a lot of the great myths and realized this pattern, he published his findings in his book The Hero with a Thousand Faces. Ever since then, authors have used “The Hero’s Journey” as an outline to tell their stories. “It is important to note that not all of these individual steps are present in every hero’s tale, nor is it important that they be in this exact order” (Vogler 20). The Hero with a Thousand Faces gives a sense of significance as it looks into the inner mind and soul. The author, Joseph Campbell, performs two extraordinary accomplishments: compelling his readers that myth and dream, those are the most effective and everlasting forces in life and a unification of mythology and psychoanalysis with a gripping narrative.
All epic heroes take on a very long and dangerous journey, including a trip to the Underworld (Allingham). Odysseus also undertakes an extensive and treacherous journey from Troy back to his home on the island of Ithaca. After defeating the Trojans and plundering Troy during the Trojan War, Odysseus and his men begin their journey back to Ithaca. While telling his story, Odysseus explains to Alcinous about his “years / of rough adventure, weathered under Zeus” (Homer 38-39). Although the journey is fated by Zeus, Odysseus is able to make it home after ten years. Throughout this long journey, Odysseus faces dangerous challenges. During his travels, Odysseus is given a bag of storm winds captured by Aeolus, King of Winds. While Odysseus is not paying attention, his men open the bag of winds, releasing them, hurling their ship completely off course. As a result of this, the journey back to Ithaca is much lengthier and certainly more ...
In Homer’s The Iliad he tells of the battles and events during the time of a quarrel between King Agamemnon and the warrior Achilles. This was just a small portion of the Trojan War that had lasted ten years. The Iliad shares the ideas of the glory of war, military values over family life, and the impermanence of human life and its creation. One thing that Homer does is characterize the two different warriors Achilles and Hector. These two great warriors both show different kinds of traits that shape the character they become throughout the The Iliad. Achilles is the main hero in The Iliad, but Homer subliminally tries to persuade the reader that Hector is the true hero in this story.
The Iliad may be seen as an account of the circumstances that irrevocably alter the life of one man: Achilles, one of the greatest warriors. Throughout the course of the poem Achilles goes through many ordeals that change his character immensely. Starting with his quarrel with Agamemnon and withdrawal from battle, to the death of Patroklos, and with the slaying of Hektor. Achilles emotions and actions decide the fate of many warriors on both sides. Achilles struggles with anger, honor, pride, loyalty and love make the poem more that just a gruesome war story.
“The Odyssey” is an epic poem that tells the story of Odysseus and the story of his many travels and adventures. The Odyssey tells the main character’s tale of his journey home to the island of Ithaca after spending ten years fighting in the Trojan War, and his adventures when he returns home and he is reunited with his family and close friends. This literary analysis will examine the story and its characters, relationships, major events, symbols and motifs, and literary devices.